Residential electric question...flickering lights and low voltage whenever any load come on...

[lbhsbz]

@Taboma @rrrr

My Dad's place....he noticed a few days ago that every time the furnace blower turned on, all the lights flickered. Did a bit of digging and is seeing (static) 123V and 117V respectively on each leg coming into the panel, measured at the feed conductors.

Also measured at the feed conductors....any time any load is turned on (coffee maker, FAU, etc...) that leg drops to 104-105V, and the other leg goes up to 130V momentarily before things stabilize.

It's an old Zinsco panel....but based on the fact that voltage is being read BEFORE the main breaker (but after the meter)...I can't see how that would have any sort of an effect on what he's seeing...unless maybe the smart meter is getting dumb somehow.

WTF is happening? I can't imagine a voltage drop through a 2G or whatever feed conductor with such a remedial load as a coffee maker, and that also wouldn't (shouldn't?) have any effect on the other leg that's gaining 7 or so volts while all this is happening.

I told him to call Edison...figure some of their gear on the pole is janky.

 

[NicPaus]

Yep Have Edison check the connection at the pole.

My neighbor had similar and they fixed it quickly.

 

[Taboma]

@Taboma @rrrr

My Dad's place....he noticed a few days ago that every time the furnace blower turned on, all the lights flickered. Did a bit of digging and is seeing (static) 123V and 117V respectively on each leg coming into the panel, measured at the feed conductors.

Also measured at the feed conductors....any time any load is turned on (coffee maker, FAU, etc...) that leg drops to 104-105V, and the other leg goes up to 130V momentarily before things stabilize.

It's an old Zinsco panel....but based on the fact that voltage is being read BEFORE the main breaker (but after the meter)...I can't see how that would have any sort of an effect on what he's seeing.

WTF is happening? I can't imagine a voltage drop through a 2G or whatever feed conductor with such a remedial load as a coffee maker, and that also wouldn't (shouldn't?) have any effect on the other leg that's gaining 7 or so volts while all this is happening.

I told him to call Edison...figure some of their gear on the pole is janky.

You didn't specify if that low start-up voltage on that low phase occurs when only a load on that particular phase is energized or on either phase ?
Non-motor resistive loads shouldn't cause a noticeable current spike and resulting voltage drop.

Regardless, given that these readings are on the line side, in particular if you've opened the main prior to testing, I'd call and discuss this with Edison. You might consider making the call yourself to perhaps better discuss the particulars of what you measured.

Of particular interest is the simultaneous drop on one leg, and in increase in the other. I encountered this once on a friends house, except far more exaggerated, it was caused by a defective neutral at the SDG&E transformer. Discussing my findings at length encouraged a prompt response.

 

[lbhsbz]

You didn't specify if that low start-up voltage on that low phase occurs when only a load on that particular phase is energized or on either phase ?
Non-motor resistive loads shouldn't cause a noticeable current spike and resulting voltage drop.

Regardless, given that these readings are on the line side, in particular if you've opened the main prior to testing, I'd call and discuss this with Edison. You might consider making the call yourself to perhaps better discuss the particulars of what you measured.

Of particular interest is the simultaneous drop on one leg, and in increase in the other. I encountered this once on a friends house, except far more exaggerated, it was caused by a defective neutral at the SDG&E transformer. Discussing my findings at length encouraged a prompt response.

I just asked him...works the same...leg with the load goes down, the other goes up.

He's on the phone with SCE....I just wanted to make sure we weren't missing something stupid here.

My house does the same thing every time one of the printers fires up, but I haven't bothered with any testing yet since I found a neutral and ground from 3 kitchen outlets bonded (with a hose clamp lol) to an old iron TEE with a couple short pieces of cutoff pipe screwed to it touching nothing else metallic and sitting in the wall on the sill plate from when they repiped the place with copper 20 years ago....lol....just slowly put it back where it goes and ran a neutral and ground under the house to tie into those....I have no idea how much more of that shit exists here, but I'd need to tear all the walls down to find out....so I just upped my insurance and installed a few more smoke detectors instead.

 

[lbhsbz]

Just got a call back to confirm the above....

Was getting a bit worried....Pops is 78 or so, playing with electricity and wasn't picking up the phone.

15 years ago we found my Grandpa (82) dead laying next to his panel with a voltmeter...lol. Turned out to be a heart attack resulting from OLD, but I was thinking to myself....damn, I've seen this movie before...lol, then the phone rang. All good.

 

[Mandelon]

All the inspectors say to replace those Zinsco panels.

 

[Taboma]

I just asked him...works the same...leg with the load goes down, the other goes up.

He's on the phone with SCE....I just wanted to make sure we weren't missing something stupid here.

My house does the same thing every time one of the printers fires up, but I haven't bothered with any testing yet since I found a neutral and ground from 3 kitchen outlets bonded (with a hose clamp lol) to an old iron TEE with a couple short pieces of cutoff pipe screwed to it touching nothing else metallic and sitting in the wall on the sill plate from when they repiped the place with copper 20 years ago....lol....just slowly put it back where it goes and ran a neutral and ground under the house to tie into those....I have no idea how much more of that shit exists here, but I'd need to tear all the walls down to find out....so I just upped my insurance and installed a few more smoke detectors instead.

I'm honestly conflicted as to which emoticon would be describe how I feel about what I just read Regardless, upping the insurance coverage amounts sounds like a solid plan

It's certainly not uncommon that starting up a printer can cause a momentary flicker, in particular if it's a laser printer. In theory a purely resistive load shouldn't cause a current spike, often just the sudden burden of the increased load can. Printers like other electronics have power supplies, so I suspect it's related to that.

 

[Taboma]

All the inspectors say to replace those Zinsco panels.

We had one in the house that burned, but Zinsco had nothing to do with starting the Witchcreek Fire. There's a shit-ton of vintage panels of all brands out there that should be replaced for various reasons, especially due to environmental degradation.

 

[NicPaus]

All the inspectors say to replace those Zinsco panels.

Required on a condo I just worked on if sold. My Buddy at Zimmerman Electric had his Guys swap it out. They work in Manhattan beach.

 

[lbhsbz]

All the inspectors say to replace those Zinsco panels.

Of course they do. I've hit it with a thermal camera when as much stuff as possible is running and there doesn't appear to be any cause for alarm....my brand new panel gets hotter than my Dad's Zinsco, and neither gets hot at all. I understand that the failure mode primarily results from a substandard grade of aluminum or coating/surface treatment on the aluminum buss bars....which if it was issue, would be clearly evident with a thermal camera.

The breakers are also said to be pieces of shit, but after having replaced as many square D breakers as I have and only one Zinsco breaker....I'm not sure I agree with that. I'm probably wrong, but it doesn't matter because he's not changing the panel until someone can find fault with it. I changed mine....only because the aftermarket breakers were useless.

 

[lbhsbz]

Required on a condo I just worked on if sold. My Buddy at Zimmerman Electric had his Guys swap it out. They work in Manhattan beach.

I'll take all the used Zinsco breakers and panels you can get me.....might even pay you for 'em. Folks pay a mint on eBay for the parts.

 

[wishiknew]

I'm honestly conflicted as to which emoticon would be describe how I feel about what I just read Regardless, upping the insurance coverage amounts sounds like a solid plan

It's certainly not uncommon that starting up a printer can cause a momentary flicker, in particular if it's a laser printer. In theory a purely resistive load shouldn't cause a current spike, often just the sudden burden of the increased load can. Printers like other electronics have power supplies, so I suspect it's related to that.

Maybe a problem with the nuetral wire coming in from Edison if the voltage between the hots are varying ???

 

[lbhsbz]

I'm honestly conflicted as to which emoticon would be describe how I feel about what I just read Regardless, upping the insurance coverage amounts sounds like a solid plan

It's certainly not uncommon that starting up a printer can cause a momentary flicker, in particular if it's a laser printer. In theory a purely resistive load shouldn't cause a current spike, often just the sudden burden of the increased load can. Printers like other electronics have power supplies, so I suspect it's related to that.

When I got the policy on this place the agent told me what the contents of the house and garage was covered for....I responded with "don't encourage me"

 

[EmpirE231]

All the inspectors say to replace those Zinsco panels.

and insurance companies.... most will non-renew now on inspection unless they are replaced.

 

[wishiknew]

Of course they do. I've hit it with a thermal camera when as much stuff as possible is running and there doesn't appear to be any cause for alarm....my brand new panel gets hotter than my Dad's Zinsco, and neither gets hot at all. I understand that the failure mode primarily results from a substandard grade of aluminum or coating/surface treatment on the aluminum buss bars....which if it was issue, would be clearly evident with a thermal camera.

The breakers are also said to be pieces of shit, but after having replaced as many square D breakers as I have and only one Zinsco breaker....I'm not sure I agree with that. I'm probably wrong, but it doesn't matter because he's not changing the panel until someone can find fault with it. I changed mine....only because the aftermarket breakers were useless.

Zinsco breakers rarely trip they just burn the buss bars then burn up

 

[lbhsbz]

Zinsco breakers rarely trip they just burn the buss bars then burn up

The one I had that failed didn't trip either....it just stopped conducting, and it was never overloaded. Took me a minute to realize what I was seeing. My square D breakers that have failed trip at 1/3 or so of their specified load....to the point where I keep a full set of replacements in stock until I find time to replace that sub with something that's not a piece shit.

 

[shaffewm]

Sounds like a bad neutral connection

 

[rrrr]

You didn't specify if that low start-up voltage on that low phase occurs when only a load on that particular phase is energized or on either phase ?
Non-motor resistive loads shouldn't cause a noticeable current spike and resulting voltage drop.

Regardless, given that these readings are on the line side, in particular if you've opened the main prior to testing, I'd call and discuss this with Edison. You might consider making the call yourself to perhaps better discuss the particulars of what you measured.

Of particular interest is the simultaneous drop on one leg, and in increase in the other. I encountered this once on a friends house, except far more exaggerated, it was caused by a defective neutral at the SDG&E transformer. Discussing my findings at length encouraged a prompt response.

Yeah, I'm thinking a problem with conductor terminations, including the neutral, the load and line sides of the meter, panelboard main breaker, and branch breakers. I would have Edison check the service drop and meter, and engage an electrician to inspect the panelboard. It probable that hasn't been done since Eisenhower was president.

The dynamic imbalance does suggest the neutral terminations may be compromised.

If aluminum conductors are involved, it would be prudent to renew the NoOx paste on the conductor terminations. That involves more than squirting a blob into the lug opening. The conductor should be manually manipulated with the paste, ensuring it embeds on all strands of the wire.

@lbhsbz

 

[Taboma]

Maybe a problem with the nuetral wire coming in from Edison if the voltage between the hots are varying ???

One of the strangest problem I ever encountered was at a close friend's dad's house. Essentially, as you energized some loads, others, like light fixtures, would keep getting brighter and brighter until the filaments would burn up. Some of the electronics he lost were far more expensive. I was training my son at the time and it was an amazing lesson in troubleshooting. After a lot of electrical detective work looking for an open neutral in the house itself, we were finally able to localize it to the panel, then finally the line side.
When I called SDG&E in the owner's behalf, their initial response was, call an electrician, the problem is in the home. "Well ma'am, you're currently speaking with him and I'd be more than happy to discuss how we arrived at our conclusion, and commenced to do so. "
Following day they sent a crew out.
Turns out some neighbor had some landscape company do some trenching and they trenched into the direct burial feeder and severed the neutral. So as you turned on the load on one phase, it was back feeding in series circuit through any energized devices on the other phase.

 

[The Chicken]

Goofy and varying line-to neutral voltages usually indicate an issue with the neutral-as a few others have indicated.
I used to see this a lot where the utility company had old direct burial lines that were starting to fault-a lot of times the jackets of the conductors were compromised and corrosion of the aluminum conductors were creating high resistance or opens under load.
Neutral and bonding issues can do some weird-and really damaging-stuff.
As for the old Zinsco panel-yeah, everyone's right, get that thing changed out. They are crap, and old.
I've got a funny Zinsco story.
Years ago when I worked for another contractor, I was basically the lead service tech. I was young, gung-ho, and needed money (well, shit-I STILL need money! LOL) so I worked a lot of overtime. On one particularly long day, my last call was to a house that was having electrical issues with parts of the house. This was pretty late in the day, and nobody else was out working, and was after-hours for the utility service crews too. My first clue that I should've just quit for the day was right when I got the dead front off the panel and reached for a suspect breaker to shut it off-my pager (yes-it was that long ago, Ha,Ha!) starts buzzing like crazy and scares the crap out of me.
After I recovered from that, I shut the breakers all off to prepare to remove the breakers to inspect the bussing for signs of damage. I grabbed the first breaker and gave a little pull and-the whole mess of Zinsco breakers complete with live bussing busts loose from the plastic isolators! So now I'm stuck holding live exposed bussing that I have to hold steady in this metal can because if I shake or drop it-BOOM!. There is no way to shut the power off besides pull the meter. Oh shit.
Now back in those days, we didn't have meter locks, and we had a pretty good working relationship with the local utility company that let us cut the tags and pull the meter in an emergency-but I've only got so many hands and I cant wiggle or let go of the live parts. I sorta had the tiger by the tail there.
Luckily, I had my trusty old Motorola big-ass flip phone with me and the utility dispatchers phone number memorized, and luckier still the on-call line crew just happened to be nearby. But that was a long 10 minutes or so!

 

[lbhsbz]

Yeah, I'm thinking a problem with conductor terminations, including the neutral, the load and line sides of the meter, panelboard main breaker, and branch breakers. I would have Edison check the service drop and meter, and engage an electrician to inspect the panelboard. It probable that hasn't been done since Eisenhower was president.

The dynamic imbalance does suggest the neutral terminations may be compromised.

If aluminum conductors are involved, it would be prudent to renew the NoOx paste on the conductor terminations. That involves more than squirting a blob into the lug opening. The conductor should be manually manipulated with the paste, ensuring it embeds on all strands of the wire.

@lbhsbz

No aluminum conductors in the house...maybe the feeds, but not sure. He went around and tightened everything, didn't find any loose.

 

[lbhsbz]

One of the strangest problem I ever encountered was at a close friend's dad's house. Essentially, as you energized some loads, others, like light fixtures, would keep getting brighter and brighter until the filaments would burn up. Some of the electronics he lost were far more expensive. I was training my son at the time and it was an amazing lesson in troubleshooting. After a lot of electrical detective work looking for an open neutral in the house itself, we were finally able to localize it to the panel, then finally the line side.
When I called SDG&E in the owner's behalf, their initial response was, call an electrician, the problem is in the home. "Well ma'am, you're currently speaking with him and I'd be more than happy to discuss how we arrived at our conclusion, and commenced to do so. "
Following day they sent a crew out.
Turns out some neighbor had some landscape company do some trenching and they trenched into the direct burial feeder and severed the neutral. So as you turned on the load on one phase, it was back feeding in series circuit through any energized devices on the other phase.

I ran into something similar on more localized scale....every fucking wire in the room was "hot" according to the stupid light up stick. interesting how a basic understanding of how shit works makes it all clear.

 

[lbhsbz]

Goofy and varying line-to neutral voltages usually indicate an issue with the neutral-as a few others have indicated.
I used to see this a lot where the utility company had old direct burial lines that were starting to fault-a lot of times the jackets of the conductors were compromised and corrosion of the aluminum conductors were creating high resistance or opens under load.
Neutral and bonding issues can do some weird-and really damaging-stuff.
As for the old Zinsco panel-yeah, everyone's right, get that thing changed out. They are crap, and old.
I've got a funny Zinsco story.
Years ago when I worked for another contractor, I was basically the lead service tech. I was young, gung-ho, and needed money (well, shit-I STILL need money! LOL) so I worked a lot of overtime. On one particularly long day, my last call was to a house that was having electrical issues with parts of the house. This was pretty late in the day, and nobody else was out working, and was after-hours for the utility service crews too. My first clue that I should've just quit for the day was right when I got the dead front off the panel and reached for a suspect breaker to shut it off-my pager (yes-it was that long ago, Ha,Ha!) starts buzzing like crazy and scares the crap out of me.
After I recovered from that, I shut the breakers all off to prepare to remove the breakers to inspect the bussing for signs of damage. I grabbed the first breaker and gave a little pull and-the whole mess of Zinsco breakers complete with live bussing busts loose from the plastic isolators! So now I'm stuck holding live exposed bussing that I have to hold steady in this metal can because if I shake or drop it-BOOM!. There is no way to shut the power off besides pull the meter. Oh shit.
Now back in those days, we didn't have meter locks, and we had a pretty good working relationship with the local utility company that let us cut the tags and pull the meter in an emergency-but I've only got so many hands and I cant wiggle or let go of the live parts. I sorta had the tiger by the tail there.
Luckily, I had my trusty old Motorola big-ass flip phone with me and the utility dispatchers phone number memorized, and luckier still the on-call line crew just happened to be nearby. But that was a long 10 minutes or so!

Meh, my new panel has aluminum buss bars too. $350 for a fucking steel box and they couldn't throw down an extra $8 for copper busses?

I'm not of the opinion that the new shit is any better.

A topic for a different discussion, but why not make a molded bakelite or nylon thing and copper buss bars that bolt into existing boxes and accept modern breakers? Would be easy, but....I guess you need a box 4 times the physical size of the old one for some stupid reason, which won't fit where it needs too half the time and costs 10 times what it should to "update" things to exactly what was there before but just not as old....which isn't an upgrade.

 

[oldman]

Money on bad Neutral from Edison if its throughout the whole house, either on the roof or the pole. If one side goes down and the other goes up But it always equals 240 Phase to phase, Coming from someone that did it for 40 years.

Zinsco breakers are bad because they used dissimilar metals and causes electrolysis. If the buss is copper there should be no problem, Most are not copper though.

Aluminum buss is not bad as long as the breakers are of a similar metal. Zinsco's were not.

 

[SoCalDave]

Had the same issue on my previous house that had a newer 100amp panel. Started off certain lights would dime flicker if a load was present. Didn't take but a couple of weeks and lost one leg as parts of the house were not being fed. Checked voltage at the meter and had one leg open to neutral. Called SCE and they were at the house a couple of hours later (8pm). Tech told me they normally wouldn't feed new lines from the pole to the weather head but another truck was in the area so they feed new lines and were done by 10pm. Was surprised they use aluminum feeds from the pole to the house. He told me it is cost related over copper. Made sense to me.

 

[lbhsbz]

Had the same issue on my previous house that had a newer 100amp panel. Started off certain lights would dime flicker if a load was present. Didn't take but a couple of weeks and lost one leg as parts of the house were not being fed. Checked voltage at the meter and had one leg open to neutral. Called SCE and they were at the house a couple of hours later (8pm). Tech told me they normally wouldn't feed new lines from the pole to the weather head but another truck was in the area so they feed new lines and were done by 10pm. Was surprised they use aluminum feeds from the pole to the house. He told me it is cost related over copper. Made sense to me.

I can't imagine that aluminum deals with swinging in the wind better than Copper over 70 years....which how old my feed is. It's 100ft from the poll to the weatherhead at my house. Maybe a pay me now or pay me later type deal that nobody is around long enough at Edison to give a shit about?

 

[oldman]

I can't imagine that aluminum deals with swinging in the wind better than Copper over 70 years....which how old my feed is. It's 100ft from the poll to the weatherhead at my house. Maybe a pay me now or pay me later type deal that nobody is around long enough at Edison to give a shit about?

It's a cost issue. If you have copper it's three separate wires I take it?

 

[lbhsbz]

It's a cost issue. If you have copper it's three separate wires I take it?

I don't have copper, but how would you get 2 hots and a neutral threw less than 3?

 

[SoCalDave]

It's a cost issue. If you have copper it's three separate wires I take it?

The two legs are coated to protect the aluminum. Not sure what material the neutral is as it is exposed to the elements.

 

[oldman]

The two legs are coated to protect the aluminum. Not sure what material the neutral is as it is exposed to the elements.

Aluminum with a steel core for strength. 6 strands of Al 1 strand of steel in the center, and it holds up pretty well, 40 years or more. I've strung miles of it to residents

The wire usually hold up better than the weatherhead does.

 

[oldman]

The worst thing for AL wire is Squirrels

 

[Taboma]

Goofy and varying line-to neutral voltages usually indicate an issue with the neutral-as a few others have indicated.
I used to see this a lot where the utility company had old direct burial lines that were starting to fault-a lot of times the jackets of the conductors were compromised and corrosion of the aluminum conductors were creating high resistance or opens under load.
Neutral and bonding issues can do some weird-and really damaging-stuff.
As for the old Zinsco panel-yeah, everyone's right, get that thing changed out. They are crap, and old.
I've got a funny Zinsco story.
Years ago when I worked for another contractor, I was basically the lead service tech. I was young, gung-ho, and needed money (well, shit-I STILL need money! LOL) so I worked a lot of overtime. On one particularly long day, my last call was to a house that was having electrical issues with parts of the house. This was pretty late in the day, and nobody else was out working, and was after-hours for the utility service crews too. My first clue that I should've just quit for the day was right when I got the dead front off the panel and reached for a suspect breaker to shut it off-my pager (yes-it was that long ago, Ha,Ha!) starts buzzing like crazy and scares the crap out of me.
After I recovered from that, I shut the breakers all off to prepare to remove the breakers to inspect the bussing for signs of damage. I grabbed the first breaker and gave a little pull and-the whole mess of Zinsco breakers complete with live bussing busts loose from the plastic isolators! So now I'm stuck holding live exposed bussing that I have to hold steady in this metal can because if I shake or drop it-BOOM!. There is no way to shut the power off besides pull the meter. Oh shit.
Now back in those days, we didn't have meter locks, and we had a pretty good working relationship with the local utility company that let us cut the tags and pull the meter in an emergency-but I've only got so many hands and I cant wiggle or let go of the live parts. I sorta had the tiger by the tail there.
Luckily, I had my trusty old Motorola big-ass flip phone with me and the utility dispatchers phone number memorized, and luckier still the on-call line crew just happened to be nearby. But that was a long 10 minutes or so!

I know that feeling of helplessness, ---- many many years ago part of our electrical contract scope for wiring the new LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushion) Facility at Camp Pendleton, included installing traffic signals, a new 12KV substation and re-feeding the 5KV sewer pumping station located out by the main area road.

During an outage one day while demoing the old pole mounted transformer pad, base Public Works was running the adjacent sewer lift station off it's 5KV standby generator.
Wanting to double check the 5KV switch gear and get some measurements, I took my foreman with me inside the block generator building.
As the two of swung the double doors of the 5KV cabinet doors open, the first thing I noticed as the doors began to open was that the dead fronts were missing, but before I could react, as if in slow motion, I watch my doors top latching rod fall inwards towards the now unprotected bussing.
By some miracle, instead of both of us being blown to hell in a plasma fireball, I just heard a soft clink.
We just froze, both of us in shock from what had just occurred and even more shocked we were still alive.
This being otherwise one of those moments you'd love to celebrate, or start laughing or praying but unfortunately, that was out of the question.
Cool, raging emotions aside, now what

Step one --- Nobody fucking move, don't flinch, don't scratch your nose, breath carefully if you have to.
Problem was, there was no way to assess where the rod had landed, what was supporting it and how tenuous our situation.
So there we stood, frozen by fear that any moment could be our last.
I had a crew of six working not far away just outside the block building, but with that huge genny running and the equipment they were running, nobody could hear us, we did try.
Problem was, nobody besides us knew we were in there, so all we could do is wait for that public works guy to makes his rounds to check on the generator.
So there we stood, completely frozen in place, trying not to shake, or stir or vibrate, for what seemed like an eternity.
Finally, almost 2 hours later, the door opened and we both started yelling --- "SHUT IT DOWN, SHUT IT DOWN, NOW" --- thankfully seeing us, he immediately did and when it finally stopped, I'm pretty sure that was the sweetest sound I'd ever heard.
The very moment we both relaxed and the doors barely moved, that F@#KING rod dropped into the now de-energized buss -- CLINK -- but no boom.

 

[GRADS]

Not saying the Zinsco panel is your problem but mine caught fire.

 

[oldman]

I don't have copper, but how would you get 2 hots and a neutral threw less than 3?

I read that you had a copper service, My bad, if you had a copper service it normally would be three separate open wires The twisted wire is called triplex,

I happen to have a triplex copper service, (I have connections) normally installed near the beach due to corrosion.

 

[CLdrinker]

Why you guys trying to blame Edison. You don’t even know where gramps lives.
Could be those dicks at SDGE or PGE

 

[lbhsbz]

Why you guys trying to blame Edison. You don’t even know where gramps lives.
Could be those dicks at SDGE or PGE

Cuz I said edison....Manhattan Beach

 

[Rkc]

Cuz I said edison....Manhattan Beach

Didn’t read every post but I think I saw you said he called. They’ll send out a Troubleman and he’ll check the service, weatherhead connections and pole connections (if overhead service) if it’s bad connectors they’ll change them right then usually. Bad service is 50/50 if they change it or put in a replace order for a crew to come out. If it’s happening to the neighbors also, could be an overloaded transformer.

 

[oldman]

Cuz I said edison....Manhattan Beach

Edison will come out for free, do that before spending money on an electrician, A Troubleman will come out and isolate the service and tell you one way or another what direction the problem is, and Might even isolate the breaker giving you the problem if it's inside the house.

You pay a decent sized bill every month and they are one of the few utilities that will come out for free and trouble shoot, use their expertise. You pay every month for it.
Nothing against electricians, but they are parts changers for the most part ( Don't kill me not all). Edison will isolate you from them and see where the problem is.

IBEW 40 years.

 

[oldman]

Didn’t read every post but I think I saw you said he called. They’ll send out a Troubleman and he’ll check the service, weatherhead connections and pole connections (if overhead service) if it’s bad connectors they’ll change them right then usually. Bad service is 50/50 if they change it or put in a replace order for a crew to come out. If it’s happening to the neighbors also, could be an overloaded transformer.

Beat me to it.

Could also be a bad secondary connection or transformer lead. any number of Edison problems. they will fix.

 

[CLdrinker]

Cuz I said edison....Manhattan Beach

That’s what I get for skimming lol

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Way late to the party, but most likely a connection on the service, either at the transformer or at the weather head. Could also be one of the meter lugs going bad, especially if the meter has been changed recently.

Rarely does the triplex service wire fail on an OH service, unless it is rubbing on something.

If all of those parts are good it is in the panel or a bad ground rod connection.

 

[Taboma]

Edison will come out for free, do that before spending money on an electrician, A Troubleman will come out and isolate the service and tell you one way or another what direction the problem is, and Might even isolate the breaker giving you the problem if it's inside the house.

You pay a decent sized bill every month and they are one of the few utilities that will come out for free and trouble shoot, use their expertise. You pay every month for it.
Nothing against electricians, but they are parts changers for the most part ( Don't kill me not all). Edison will isolate you from them and see where the problem is.

IBEW 40 years.

Hey fellow IBEW Bro, your point was well made with your first paragraph, you should have stopped typing before your true nature was exposed.
Much Disrespect

 

[Romans9]

I know that feeling of helplessness, ---- many many years ago part of our electrical contract scope for wiring the new LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushion) Facility at Camp Pendleton, included installing traffic signals, a new 12KV substation and re-feeding the 5KV sewer pumping station located out by the main area road.

During an outage one day while demoing the old pole mounted transformer pad, base Public Works was running the adjacent sewer lift station off it's 5KV standby generator.
Wanting to double check the 5KV switch gear and get some measurements, I took my foreman with me inside the block generator building.
As the two of swung the double doors of the 5KV cabinet doors open, the first thing I noticed as the doors began to open was that the dead fronts were missing, but before I could react, as if in slow motion, I watch my doors top latching rod fall inwards towards the now unprotected bussing.
By some miracle, instead of both of us being blown to hell in a plasma fireball, I just heard a soft clink.
We just froze, both of us in shock from what had just occurred and even more shocked we were still alive.
This being otherwise one of those moments you'd love to celebrate, or start laughing or praying but unfortunately, that was out of the question.
Cool, raging emotions aside, now what

Step one --- Nobody fucking move, don't flinch, don't scratch your nose, breath carefully if you have to.
Problem was, there was no way to assess where the rod had landed, what was supporting it and how tenuous our situation.
So there we stood, frozen by fear that any moment could be our last.
I had a crew of six working not far away just outside the block building, but with that huge genny running and the equipment they were running, nobody could hear us, we did try.
Problem was, nobody besides us knew we were in there, so all we could do is wait for that public works guy to makes his rounds to check on the generator.
So there we stood, completely frozen in place, trying not to shake, or stir or vibrate, for what seemed like an eternity.
Finally, almost 2 hours later, the door opened and we both started yelling --- "SHUT IT DOWN, SHUT IT DOWN, NOW" --- thankfully seeing us, he immediately did and when it finally stopped, I'm pretty sure that was the sweetest sound I'd ever heard.
The very moment we both relaxed and the doors barely moved, that F@#KING rod dropped into the now de-energized buss -- CLINK -- but no boom.

Wow, that was intense just reading it…..

 

[lbhsbz]

Edison will be out sometime in the next 5 days to check things out....

 

[SoCalDave]

5 days? Wow

 

[NicPaus]

5 days? Wow

My oxygen machine is not working correctly. Hint hint..

My guys blew a fuse yesterday with the paver saw. Lady was gasping for air within 3 minutes it took me to change the fuse. Good thing I was there.

 

[Taboma]

My oxygen machine is not working correctly. Hint hint..

My guys blew a fuse yesterday with the paver saw. Lady was gasping for air within 3 minutes it took me to change the fuse. Good thing I was there.

Fuses --- has she considered upgrading to slightly used Zinsco ? I've read they're guaranteed not to trip

 

[NicPaus]

Fuses --- has she considered upgrading to slightly used Zinsco ? I've read they're guaranteed not to trip

I already got a new main panel hung in the spotted location. Just finishing up driveway and installing the 600 gallon rain barrel collection system. And I will call for final inspection.

 

[oldman]

Hey fellow IBEW Bro, your point was well made with your first paragraph, you should have stopped typing before your true nature was exposed.
Much Disrespect

Was it the parts changer that triggered you?

 

[hallett21]

Was it the parts changer that triggered you?

Are linemen cutting down trees and whittling them into poles these days?